View my complete profileMy name is Diane Shepard Johnson and my daughter Sarah and I have always loved old fashioned things. We find Tasha Tudor and Beatrix Potter so inspiring. Some of our favorite things and interests are: spinning, weaving, natural dyeing of fiber and yarn, knitting, bobbin lace making, vegetable, herb and flower gardening, old fashioned clothing and frocks, dolls, the old ways of preparing food, canning, corgyn, bunnies, goats, birds, photography, writing, drawing and painting, the old ways of living and old fashioned tasks.The Corgyncombe Courant is our newspaper of some of the highlights of life at Corgyncombe Cottage. Courant is an old term for newspaper.

October 13, 2009

Stones: From The Butt'ry to Ye Old Burying Ground

The Corgyncombe Butt'ry and Family Turf

The Butt'ry in old houses was oft' times on the north side of the house because it was the coolest side of the building. This is so at Corgyncombe Cottage. The Corgyncombe Butt'ry is on the north side of the cottage. Corgyncombe Cottage acquired the sandstone sink in Connecticut where Diane and Sarah's ancestors, the Stanclift family, dwelt. In the above photograph Diane has a colander full of washed carrots from the Corgyncombe Vegetable Garden.

The Corgyncombe Courant knows that their readers are wondering why we going from the Butt'ry to the old graveyard...

Gravestone of James Stanclift (1712-1785). In the border on the sides it looks like thistles and vines were carved.Gravestone carving was a tradition in the Stanclift family. The stone in the photograph above was carved by James Stanclift Jr. (b. 1756) for his father James Stanclift (1712-1785). Diane's 6th great grandfather James Stanclift (1712-1785) also carved gravestones, as did his father William Stanclift (1686-1761) and grandfather James Stanclift (1639-1712) before him. In the graveyard, near the gravestone that is pictured above, is a stone that James Stanclift (1712-1785) himself carved for his son Thomas who was wounded in the Revolutionary War and though he made it back home he died soon after from the wounds inflicted upon him. The stone of the gravestones and the Corgyncombe Butt'ry sink are the same reddish brown sandstone. The sink, which was from a very old house in the area the Stanclifts lived, could well have been made by one of the Stanclifts.

Whilst here in the Butt'ry you will notice some handmade goat's milk soap on the sink. A goatie friend of Diane's made the soap and of course Diane wants to make some of her own. The friend recommended "Milk-Based Soaps" by Casey Makela and for cheese making, "Home Cheese Making" by Ricki Carroll.

In the Butt'ry, on the shelf amongst the yellowware, is "The New England Butt'ry Shelf Cookbook" written by Mary Mason Campbell and illustrated by Tasha Tudor. The book goes throughout the year, featuring receipts for different celebrations and contains Tasha's delightful colour illustrations for New Year's, Valentine's Day, Easter, May Day, Afternoon Tea, Weddings, Anniversaries, Picnics, Fourth of July, Birthdays, Quilting Bee Thimble Tea, Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The Corgyncombe Courant's favorite colour illustration is the corgi in the butt'ry surrounded by delectable Christmas treats and includes many of our favorite things.

Some carrots from The Corgyncombe Cannery... delicious for winter soups, stews, and casseroles. And now, dear readers, another batch of carrots needs pulling and preparing for canning. The Corgyncombe Vegetable Garden has carrots in abundance.

5 comments:

Anonymous
said...

How I am enjoying your lovely blog. I just found it and am now a frequent visitor. I love the old-fashioned way of doing things and I have always held Tasha Tudor in high regard.The buttery sink is truly a marvel and your carrots look scrumptious!Kathy L.

I always look forward to what you will be sharing here at your Corgyncombe Courant! It is certain to always be delightful and interesting. How wonderful the butt'ry sink and tombstone of your ancestors are made from the same sandstone and very possibly by one of the Stanclifts! They are both so lovely! The carrots from your garden look so delicious! I agree with dear Jane, the soap looks like butter! I can imagine how wonderful it feels to wash your hands with it. I am sure your soap-making, and cheese-making endeavors will be a great success! I, too, have the Butt'ry shelf cookbook and I simply adore the charming illustrations by Tasha Tudor, and the recipes by Mary Mason Campbell. It is a true keepsake. Your canned carrots turned out beautifully. I am so glad you have a good supply of carrots from your garden!